Valve actuator



July 24, 1951 'N. M. FOSTER VALVE ACTUATOR Filed Sept. 1, 1948 3Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. lVJEM/M M. Fairlie July 24, 1951 Filed Sept.1, 1948 N. M. FOSTER VALVE ACTUATOR '3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Patented July 24, 1951 VALVE ACTUATOR Norman M. Foster, New Castle,Ind., assignor to Western Products, Incorporated, New Castle, Ind., acorporation of Indiana Application September 1, 1948, Serial No. 47,163

This invention relates to improvements in a safety valve andparticularly to improvements in the means whereby the valve is operated.

The valve actuating mechanism or the present invention is an improvementon the mechanism disclosed in applicants Patent 2,218,606 for Valvewhich issued on October 22, 1940.

Safety valves find their principal use in connection with systemsutilizing fluid fuel such as gas and oil. Safety valvesare in effectautomatic shut-off valves which automatically operate upon failure ofeither the fuel or the power which is utilized in the above noted fluidfuel burning systems. The mechanism of the present invention similar tothat disclosed in the above identified patent is impossible of beingoperated unless the system is in proper condition for operation andcannot be by-passed or side-stepped to have the valve opened as ispossible with valves of the so called automatic shut-off type that havebeen available.

The mechanism of the presentinvention while absolutely fool-proof isconsiderably lighter in weight and simpler in construction than themechanism disclosed in the above identified patent.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a compact safety valve or automatic shut-off valve which can beopened only when the system in which thevalve is employed is in properoperating condition.

Another object of this invention is theprovision of a valve operatingmechanism that immediately closes the valve when conditions re quire itand upon closing permits the operating mechanism to be reset forsubsequent operation of the valve when tion.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a valve actuatingmechanism that is more positive in its valve closing operation thanhereto fore employed.

A still further object of this invention is' the provision of a valveactuating mechanism thatis extremely simple in its construction,utilizing'a minimum of parts and having a long and troublefree life yetit is extremely light in weight commensurate with the duty it mustperform."

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readilyapparent by reference to the following specification considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings formin a part thereof and itis to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact thesystem is in propercondistructural details there shown and described,-

14 Claims. (01. 74-2) from line l2-l 2 on Fig. 5.

Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from orexceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an automatic shut-off valve embodyingthe principles and construction of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational View of the valve of Fig. 1 one. larger scalewith the cover partially removed and parts in cross-section for moreclearly illustrating the same. I

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing'the parts of the valveactuating mechanism in the position when attempting to open the valvewhen the system is not in condition for opening the same.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in the position foropening the valve when the system is in proper condition to have .thevalve opened.

Fig. 5 is a view of the valve actuating parts in position with the valveopen and as seen from line 5-5 on Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the valve and its mechanism with thehousing for the mechanism in cross-section.

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the valve actuating mechanismwiththe housing therefor in cross-section as seen from line 1-1 on Fig.5.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation andseen'fromthe other side of Fig. 5 on line 8-8 onsaid Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view through the connecting linkbetween the valve and its actuating mechanism asseen from line S-Q. onFig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating some of the. possible usesof the control valve mechanism. t

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view through certainparts of the device as seen from line Il-ll on Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view through certainpartsof the device as seen Throughout the several views of the drawingssimilar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similarparts.

'Ihe valve controlled mechanism of the present invention comprises amain or supporting plate l5 from three sides ofwhich upwardly projectsthe enclosing housing, comprising afront l6 and side walls I! and I8joined at their upper ends by arounded or arcuate top I9. Forwardly ofthe housing front I6, in the plane of the supporting plate.|5 and as acontinuation of said plate I5, is a flange 2!] reinforced by a rib 2|upstanding therefrom and integral at its rear end with the housin frontIS.

The housing front l6 has projecting therefrom into the interior 22 ofthe housing a hollow boss or sleeve 23 which forms the sole support forthe valve actuating mechanism. The .boss or sleeve 23 has rotatably oroscillatably journaled therein a shaft 24 illustrated in the drawings asa hollow sleeve. of the housing front l6 and has pinned or otherwisesecured to the said projecting portion 25 of the shaft 24 the hub 26 ofan actuating lever 21.

The lever 21 has one end thereof suitably shaped The shaft 24 projectsforwardly:

The trigger 38 comprises a body portion 52 having at one end an enlargedcollar 53 through which extends the pivot-rivet 31. The trigger bodyportion 52 has at its other end a similar enlarged collar portion 54from which projects a finger 55 that normally overlies the hammer head45 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The trigger collar 54 has pivoted thereto, as by rivet '56, onv eachsidethereof one end of links 5! and 58. The connection between the .ilinks51 and 58 and the trigger 38 is through a ball bearing 59 carried by thetrigger collar 54 and as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. It should beherenoted that the pivotal connection of the througha ball bearing 60,also clearly illusto provide a comfortable grip while its other end isformed as a pointer 28 cooperating with suitable indicia 29 and 30 onthe front face of the housing front wall I6 for indicating whether thevalve, controlled thereby, is open or closed, said positions beinrespectively indicatedrin the drawings as on or off. v i

Secured to the shaft 24 within the housing space 22 is the carriercomprising a pair of plates 3| and 32 each having acontour in plan mostclearly illustrated for plate 32 in Fig. 3. Each of the carrier plates3| and 32 includes a body portion 33 from the upper end of which extendsa finger 34 and which has its righthand edge, ee Fig. 3, outwardlyturned to form a flange 35. The said carrier plates 3| and 32respectively have their flanges 35 projecting in opposite directions asseen, for example, in Figs. 6, '7 and 8. The plates 3| and 32 aresecured to the shaft 24 in any suitable or desirable manner preferablyby welding and are secured in spaced apart relation with the plate 3|adjacent namely that of a shaft for the releasing and locking triggerindicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 38. 1

The carrier plates 3| and 32 through their flanges 35 have mountedthereon a solenoid coil 39 which has at its inner verticaledges flanges40 in face contact with the carrier plates flanges 35 and through whichcontacting'flanges suitable bolts or the like 4| extend in securing theparts to one another. Slidably disposed in the solenoid coil '39 is thesolenoid core 42 having at its upper end a head 43 centrally slotted toreceive a web 44 centrally of a trigger actuating member or hammer 45.

The hammer '45 has rearw'ardly' projecting therefrom a tongue 46 whichis disposed between the carrierplate's 3| and 32 and is mounted on a pin41 carriedby'saidplates and with said hammer tongue 46 substantiallyspanning the space therebetween. The pivot pin 41 alsoserves as a meansfor supportinga torsional spring 48 which has one of its arms 49 inengagement with the hammerhead and-its other arm 50 anchored against thesolenoid coil 39 whereby the hammer head 45 is normally retained in araised position illustrated in Fig. 3. I The hammer head vweb 44 andsolenoid core 42 are pivotly connected to one another through apivotgpin 5|.v

linkcollar 53 with carrier plates 3| and 32 is tratedin Fig. 5.

The other ends of the links 51 and 5B are ,qpivotly connected through arivet 6| with a pair of actuating plates or sectors 62 and 63 which areeach. mounted on the outer race of a ball bearing 64 which forms, thepivotal connection of saidother ends of the links 51 and 58 with theactuating plates or sectors 62 and 63.

The actuating plates or sectors have a contour, in plan,.as illustratedin Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 which may be described as substantiallyrectangular with an upwardly projecting portion 55 which isthe portionthat receives the ball bearing 54.. The. actuating plates or sectors 62and 53 are provided in their lower corners with apertures to be looselymounted on the operating shaft .or sleeve 24 as illustrated in Fig. 8.The said actuating plates62 and 63 areconnected to one anotherlthrough aspacing "collar 56 that has a rotating or oscillating bearing on theoperating shaftfor' sleeve 24. By this construction there is providedbetween thecarrier plates 62 and 63 a space 61 which receives the valveoperating link 68'. 7

The valve operating link 58 has its upper end atively thin by comparisonwith its width whereforfthe' aperture III is a relatively narrow slitextending through the top of the said hollow boss 1|. The lower end ofthe link 68 is pivotly connected at. 12 with the outer end of a crank orlever 13 keyed or otherwise secured to the end of valve actuating shaft14. Secured to and carried by the link 68 near the pivot 12 and lever 13is a plate or washer 15 forming one abutment'for anexpansion coil spring16 which has its other end in abutment with the undersurface of the boss|.v I

The valve, per se, may be of any suitable or desirable construction andincludes a valve body 11 having an inlet 18 on one side thereof and anoutlet 19 on its other side. Interiorly of the body '11 the valve shaft14 has secured thereto an arm 8|] which oscillates therewith said armcarrying at its inner end a valve member 8|, adapted in theclosedposition of the valve, to prevent flow through the valve outlet 19.

.-,In order to connect the valve body 11 with the actuating mechanismitgis provided at its upper vend; with a mounting flange 82' in facecontact with the undersurface of the actuating mechanism flange 2D withsaid flanges connected .to :one. another through a plurality of suitablebolts. 83;; p r.

There is illustrated in Fig. 10, to which reference is now to be had,some of the various uses to which a safety valve of this invention isapplied, As seenin Fig. 10, the safety valve of this invention isindicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 84, connected betweenpipe sections 85 and 86, respectively, connected with the valve inlet 18and valve outlet I9 and through which flows the fluid fuel, such as gasor oil. The pipe 85 terminates in a burner 31 and the pipe 85. hastherein, just ahead of the burner 8'I, the regulating valve 38. Tappedinto the pipe 85, ahead of the safety valve 8 3, is the pilot line orpilot fuel supply pipe 89, which terminates in the pilot burner 90, andthe pipe 89 has therein the regulating valve 9|, automatic valve 92 andsuch other auxiliary equipment as is necessary, and which equipment isauxiliary to the protection afforded by the valve of the instantapplication. Within the pilot flame 93 is the electrode rod 94,electrically connected with a suitable relay mechanism 95, which is inturn electrically connected with a power supply 96. The relay 95 hasalso connectedtherewith auxiliary mechanism, such as the push bu"- ton91 for operating the pilot automatic valve 92. and a signal 98 forvisibly or audibly indicating the interruption of the operation of thesystem.

,The relay 95 is also connected, as by the lead or wire 99, withthe leador wire I from one end of thesolenoid coil 39 of the valve controlledmechanism. a The other lead or wire IIlI of the solenoid coil'39 isconnected to a wire I92 that extends to the power supply lines I03 whichopcrates the motor of a recirculating or exhaust fan or the like I94.The said second lead or wire I OI of the solenoid 39 has thereinincluded anair-flow switch I05 associated withthe pipe or duct I06 ofthe fan I94. The companion lead or wire] I01, from the relay 95, islikewise connected with the power supply lines Itl and may have includedtherein various automatic switches such asIll8, I99 and III], theoperation of any one of which will effect the operation of the safetyvalve.

Theoperation of the system illustrated in Fig. 10 is an follows:

The push button 9'! is operated for releasing the automatic valve 92 andcausing a fuel flow through the pilot line 89 to the pilot burner 99which is then ignited in the usual way, producing the flame 93. The fanI94 is now started, or may'have been previously started, which, when theproper volume of airor velocity or flow of air is set up in'the pipe orconduit I96, closes the switch I95. The other safety switches I53, I09and Ilfl are now closed or cut in, depending upon their position in thesystem. The flame 93, acting on the electrode rod 94, causes current toflow through the relay 95, which in turn causes current to flow from thepower lines Hi3 through thelead IM and air flow switch I95 therein,solenoid 39, leads I96 and 99, relay 95, line I91 and automatic switchesI08, I99 and HG, tothe power lines I93. At this time the safety valve 94may be manually operated to start a flow through the pipe 86 r Theoperation of the valve and its mechanism is as follows: I

.With the current off the valve actuating parts are in theposition asillustrated in Fig. 2 with the torsional spring 48, through its arms 49and 50, holding the hammer in the position there illustrated. In orderto hold the hammer in thispositionthe hammer tongue 46 is provided witha depending .ear III' which has an abutment face ,I I2 to contact thesolenoid coil casing on its. inner side, as seen in the drawings. Thehammer head 45 withdraws the solenoid core 42 from the coil and atthesame time through its contact with the trigger finger elevates the saidtrigger sothat the rivet-pivots 6| and 55 are in a plane above aparallel plane passing through the rivet-pivot 31. At this time the coilspring I6 is fully expanded for maintaining the valve disc Bl in theclosed position in Fig. 2.

The actuation ofthe lever 2I from its downward, or off position, to itsupward, or on position, tends to actuate the. carrier plates 3| and 32from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3. At this time andwith, the actuating plates or sectors 62 and 63 under spring tension,the movement of the carrier plates 3| and 32, in aclockwise direction,causes the links 5! and 58 to swing the trigger 38 away from the hammer45 as illustrated in Fig. 3 thereby in no way disturbing the position ofthe valve member ill with respect to the valve outlet. In other words,with no current'in the solenoid coil 39 the actuation of the lever 21merely results in the oscillation of the carrier plates 3I and 32without in anywise actuatin the valve member 8|.

Release of the handle or actuating lever 21 returns the parts'to theirnormal position which is eifected by a'spring II3, see Fig. 8, whichencircles the actuating shaft or sleeve 24 having one end H4 connectedwith the said shaft or sleeve 24 and the other end II5 connected withthe housing bearing or boss 23 Or the housing front plate I6.

Closing of the actuating switch or push button 97 for effecting acurrent flow as above described in connection with the control system,energizes thesolenoid coil 39 thereby drawing into itself the core42'and lowering the hammer head 45 from the position of Figs. 2 and 3 tothe position of Figs. 4 and 5. This permits the trigger 38 to drop belowits normal position to have the plane through the pivots BI and 56 to bebelow a parallel plane which includes the pivot 31 whereby setting up alatching of the carrier plates 3I and 32 with the actuating plates 62and 63. In order to properl position the trigger 38 in the latchingposition it has laterally projecting from each side of its collar 54 alug or ear I I6 which, in its latching position, engages the upper edgeof carrier plates 32 and 33 as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 12.

Actuation of the actuating lever or handle 21 from its off, or downwardposition, to its on, or upward position, now shifts or oscillates thecarrier plates 3| and 32 alon with the actuating plates or sectors 62and 63 from the solid line positionqin Fig.4 to the phantom lineposition thereof or tothe solid line position of Fig. 5 for therebyraising the link 69 which through the crank or lever I3 oscillates thevalve shaft 14 for shifting the valve member 8| to it open position asillustrated in Fig. 5.

In order to lock the valve in this open position a lockin mechanism isprovided comprising a pair of upstanding ears or lugs Ill and H8integral with and upstanding from the housing supporting plate I 5, nearone corner thereof. The lugs I I! and I I8 are spaced from one anotherto receive one end of locking bars H9. The other end of the locking barsII9 are adapted to be projected into the space between carrier plates 32and33 and these bars carry at these free ends a ball bearing I2I whichacts as a locking abutmerit. The ball bearing is mounted o'n arivetpivotI2I which retains the locking bars H9 in spaced relation. The bars I I9are yieldably actuated to their locking position by a torsional springI22 mounted on the rivet-pivot I2Il-and which spring has one arm I23anchored to the housin supporting plate I and has its other arm I24 op"-eratively engaged with one of the locking bars II9.

In the normal position of the parts the abutment or ball bearing 12! isengaged by the actuating plates or sectors 62 and 63 and held out oflatching or locking position. When, however, the actuating plates orsectors 62 and 63 are latched to the carrier plates 3| and 32 and movedtherewith the abutment or ball bearin I2I is free to be, moved into thespace between the said carrier plates 31 and 32. As the actuatingmechanism reaches its final open position the carrier a positionforwardly of the abutment or ball bearing I2I so that the said abutmentor ball hearing may take a position behind and slightly above the saidrivet 36 thereby preventing the valve closing spring I6 and theactuating lever returning spring II3 from returning the parts to theirnormal positions and holding the rivet-abutment 36 in abuttingengagement with the abutmentball bearin I2I and locking the valve in itsopen position. In order to properly position the lockplates connectingrivet 36 is brought to ing bars II9 in locking positions they each haveprojecting from their free ends lugs I33 that engage the under surfaceof the actuating plates 32 and 33.

The valve actuating parts are retained in this position with the valvemember 8| in the open position until it is desired to close down thevalve or a failure in fuel or the current circuit occurs. Any one ofthese failures or the purposeful interruption of current or fuel flowwill deenergize the solenoid 39 thereby permitting the torsional spring48 to actuate the hammer head 49 upwardly and engage the finger 55 ofthe latch 38 and actuate the said latch to a position for throwing itspivot-rivet 56 above the pivot-rivet 31 and thereby effect an unlatchingof the carrier plates from the actuating plates. This unlatching ofthese parts permits the coil spring I6, placed under tension upon theopening of the valve, to

expand and closethe valve. As the valve closes the actuating plates orsectors 62 and 63 move to the position of Fig. 3 which permits the edgeor. surface I of said plates or sectors 62 and 63 to act as a cam andengage the abutment-ball bearing I2I and push same below theabutmentrivet 36 for thereby unlocking the carrier from its valveopening position. The unlocking of the carrier permits the actuatinglever spring II3 to return the actuating mechanism to its normalposition as illustrated in Fig. 2.

To prevent unlawful and unauthorized actuation of the valve shaft I4 theprojecting end of said shaft, its crank or lever 73 and the lower partof the link 68 and sprin IS are suitably enclosed in a housing I26 whichhas its upper end open and abuts the underside of the plate I5. Suitablescrews or bolts I2'I are extended through the plate II5 for holding thehousing I26 in its proper position. The housing I26 is provided throughone of its sides I28 with a slot I29 for straddling the projectingportion of the valve shaft M. The sides of this slot are provided withgrooves I and I3I to receive a plate I32 slid thereinto after thehousing I26 is passed over the 8 valve shaft '14 and prior to the actualfastening of the housing by the screws I21. 1 1

From theforegoing, it is believed now evident that there has beenprovided a safety valve or automatic shut-oii valve which is simple inconstruction, utilizing a minimum of parts and otherwise accomplishesthe objects initially set forth. What is claimed is: Y 1. In a device ofthe class described the combination of an actuator, a carrier, a leverconnected with the carrier, a latch on the carrier adapted to connectthe actuator and carrier with one another for actuating the actuatorfrom a first to a second position, yielding-means for holding the latchin unlatching position, and electro-magnetic means energizable forrendering the yielding means inoperative. I l

2. In a device of the class described' the combination of an actuator, acarrier, a lever connected with the carrier, a latch on the carrieradapted to connect the actuator and carrier with one another foractuating the actuator from a first to a second position, yielding meansfor holding the latch in unlatching position, electromagnetic meansenergizable for rendering the yielding means inoperative, and ayieldably positioned locking device for locking the carrier: in saidsecond position. 7 v 3. In a device of the class describedthe con-lbination of an actuator, a carrier, .a lever con'j nected with thecarrier, a latch on the amer adapted to connect the actuator and carrierwith one another for actuating the actuator ,from'a first to a secondposition, yielding means 'lo'r holding the latch in unlatching position,electrof magnetic means energizable for rendering the yielding meansinoperative, a yieldably positioned locking device for locking. thecarrier in {saidv sec; ond position, and yieldable means tensionableduring the operation of the actuator from sa i d first to said secondposition fOr actuating's'a'i'd actuator to said first position upondeenergization of the electro-magnetic means. 1 I

4. In a device of the class describedthecombination of an actuator, acarrier, a lever. connected with the carrier, a latch on the carrieradapted to connect the actuator and carrierwith one another foractuating the actuator from a first to a second position, yielding meansfor holding the latch in unlatching position, .electromagnetic meansenergizable for rendering; the yieldin means inoperative, a yieldablypositioned locking device for locking the carrier in said secondposition, yieldable means tensionable during the operation of theactuator from said first to said second position for actuating saidactuator to said first position upon deenergization of theelectro-magnetic means, said actuator including means for operating theyieldably positioned locking device to an unlocking position, and meansfor returning the carrier to'its said first position. 1

5. In a device of the class describedthe combination of an actuator, acarrier, a lever connected with the carrier, a latch on the carrieradapted to connect the actuator and carrier with one another foractuating the actuator froma first to a second position, yieldingmeansflfor holding the latch in unlatching position, electro magneticmeans energizable for rendering the yielding means inoperative, ayieldably posi-' tioned locking device for locking the carrier in saidsecond position, yieldable means tensionable during the operation of theactuator from said tioned locking device prior to said actuator reachingits said first position to permit the return of the carrier and itslever to their said first positions, and meansfor returning the carrierand its lever to their said first positions.

6 In a mechanism of the class described the combination of a supportinghousing, a shaft rotatably supported by said housing, a pair of spacedcarrier plates secured to and movable with the shaft, a lever on saidshaft for actuating same and the carrier plates from a first to a secondposition, an actuator freely mounted on said shaft between the spacedcarrier plates, connecting means including a yieldable member carried bythe actuator, latch means for latching the actuator and carrier platesto one another for unitary movement with the shaft for thereby actuatingthe connecting means and tensioning the connecting means yieldablemember, and means for renderin the latch inoperative so that theconnecting means yieldable member actuates the actuator and connectingmeans independently of the shaft.

7. In a mechanism of the class described the combination of a supportinghousing, a shaft rotatably supported by said housing, a pair of spacedcarrier plates secured to and movable with the shaft, a lever on saidshaft for actuating same and the carrier plates from a first to a secondposition, an actuator freely mounted on said shaft betweenthe spacedcarrier plates, connecting means including a yieldable member carried bythe "actuator, latch means for latching the actuator and carrier platesto one another for unitary movement with the shaft for'thereby actuatingthe connecting means and tensioning the connecting means yieldablemember, means forrendering the latch inoperative so that the connectingmeans yieldable member actuates the actuatorand connecting meansindependently'o'f the shaft, and yielding means for actuating the shaftand carrier plates from said second to said first position.

8. In a mechanism of the class described the combination of a supportinghousing, a shaft rotatably supported by the housing, a carrier securedto and movable with the shaft, a lever on the shaft for actuating sameand the carrier from a first to a second position, an actuator freelymounted on said shaft, said carrier and actuator each having projectingportions located behind one another, means carried by one of saidcarrier and actuator projecting portions for connecting said carrier andactuator to one another for unitary movement by the lever and shaft,yielding means for rendering the connecting means inoperative, andelectro-magnetic means for rendering the yielding means inoperative whenthe actuator and carrier are to be connected to one another.

9. In a mechanism of the class described the combination of a supportinghousing, a shaft rotatably supported by said housing, a carrier securedto and movable with the shaft, a lever for actuating the shaft andcarrier from a first to a second position, an actuator loosely mountedon said shaft, said carrier and actuator each having a projectingportion behind one another, latching links pivotly carried by theprojection of the actuator, a trigger pivotly connecting the latchinglinks to the projecting portion of the car- 10 rier, yielding means foractuating the trigger to a position for rendering the latching linksinoperative, and electro-magnetic means energizable for rendering theyielding means inoperative so that the trigger positions the latchinglinks for latching the carrier and actuator to one another for unitaryoperation from said first to said sec-- ond position.

10. In a mechanism of the class described the combination of asupporting housing, a. shaft rotatably supported by said housing, acarrier securedto and movable with the shaft, a lever for actuating-theshaft and carrier from a first to a second position, an actuator looselymounted on said shaft, said carrier and actuator each having .aprojecting portion behind one another, latching links pivotly carried bythe projection of the actuator atrigger pivotly connecting the latchinglinks to the projecting portionof the carrier, yielding means foractuating the trigger to a positionfor rendering the latching linksinoperative, and electro-magnetic means energizable for rendering theyielding means inoperative so that the trigger positions the latchinglinks for latching the carrier and actuator to one another a projectingportion behind one another, latching links pivotly carried by theprojection of the actuator, a trigger pivotly connecting the latchinglinks to the projecting portion of the carrier, yielding means foractuating the trigger to a. position for rendering the latching linksinoperative, electro-magnetic means energizable for rendering theyielding means inoperative so that the trigger positions the latchinglinks for latching the carrier and actuator to one another for unitaryoperation from said first to said second position, comprising a movablecore connected with the last mentioned yieldable means and operablethereby for actuating the trigger upon deenergization of theelectro-magnetic means, and a yieldably positioned locking device forlocking the carrier in said second position.

12. In a mechanism of the class described the combination of asupporting housing, a shaft rotatably supported by said housing, acarrier secured to and movable with the shaft, a lever for actuating theshaft and carrier from a first to a second position, an actuator looselymounted on said shaft, said carrier and actuator each having aprojecting portion behind one another, latching links pivotly carried bythe projection of the actuator, a trigger pivotly connecting thelatching links to the projecting portion of the carrier, yielding meansfor actuating the trigger to a position for rendering the latching linksinoperative, electro-magnetic means energizable for rendering theyielding means inoperative so that the trigger positions the latchinglinks for latching the carrier and actuator to one another for unitaryoperation from said first to said second position, comprising a movablecore connected with the last mentioned yieldable means and operablethereby for actuating the trigger upon deener- 11 gization' of theelectro-magnetic means, a yieldably positioned locking device forlocking the carrier in said second position, and yieldable means,tensioned during the operation ofthe actuator from said first to saidsecond position, for actuating said actuator to said first position upondeenergizationof the electro-magnetic means.

13. In a mechanism of the class described the combination of asupporting housing, a shaft rotatably supported by said housing, acarrier secured to and movable with the shaft, a lever for actuating theshaft and carrier from a first to a second position, an actuator looselymounted onisaid shaft, said carrier and actuator each having aprojecting portion behind one another, latching links pivotly carried bythe projection of the actuator, a trigger pivotly connecting thelatching links to the projecting portion of the carrier, yielding meansfor actuating the trigger to a position for rendering the latching linksinoperative, electro-magnetic means energizable for rendering theyielding means inoperative so that the trigger positions the latchinglinks for latching the carrier and actuator to one another for unitaryoperation from said first to said second position, comprising a movablecore connected with the last mentioned yieldable means and operablethereby for actuating the trigger upon deenergization of theelectro-magnetic 'means, a yieldably positioned locking device forlocking the carrier in said second position, yieldable means; tensionedduring the operation of the actuator from said first to said secondposition, for actuating said actuator to said first position upondeenergization of the electro-magnetic means, said yieldably positionedlocking device includin an abutment cooperating with an abutment on thecarrier, and means on said actuator for separating the locking deviceand carrier abutments upon actuation of the actuator from its saidsecond to its said first position to permit the return of the carrierand its lever to their said first positions.

14. In a mechanism of the class described the combination of asupporting housing, a shaft rotatably supported by said housing, acarrier secured to and movable with the shaft, a lever for actuating theshaft and carrier from a first to a second position, an actuator looselymounted on said shaft, said carrier and actuator each having aprojectinportion behind one another,

and operable thereby for actuating the trigger upon deenergization ofthe electro-magnetic means, a yieldably positioned lockin device forlocking the carrier in said second position, yieldable means, tensionedduring the operation of the actuator from said first to said secondposition, for actuating said actuator to said first position upondeenergization of the electro-magnetic means, said yieldably positionedlocking device including an abutment cooperatin with an abutment on thecarrier, means on said actuator for separating the locking device andcarrier abutments upon actuation of the actuator from its said second toits said first position to permit the return of the carrier and itslever to their said first positions, and yielding means for returningthe carrier and its lever to their said first positions.

NORMAN M. FOSTER.

' file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

